William MCLEAN

MCLEAN, WILLIAM (b. Dumfries, Scotland, 12 Jan 1845; d. Middle Brighton, Vic, 6 Feb 1905). Victorian Baptist layman.

Arriving with his parents from Scotland in 1853, William McLean completed his schooling in Melbourne. After experience in the hardware trade, in 1870 he entered business, first with T E White, and later with his brother Joseph and William Rigg. The firm prospered and extended to other colonies, with offices in London and New York.

Baptised by the Rev James Taylor (q.v.) in 1863, he joined the Collins St Baptist Church and became leader of the church's 'Gospel Band', organising a Sunday school in Little Bourke St (later Brien Lane Gospel Hall), then another in Carlton (transferred to Bouverie St), after which he devoted his energies to a third in Hoddle St. There he purchased, renovated and donated to the church a building for mission work (to become the Abbotsford Baptist Church): one of his many benefactions. In 1878 he was appointed a deacon, and later treasurer of the Collins St Church. While on business overseas, he was able to facilitate the appointment of successive pastors, Samuel Chapman (1877) and S Pearce Carey (1900).

His leadership and generosity extended to the community. He was active in the YMCA, was a member of the Melbourne Hospital committee (1882-92) and, as a temperance advocate, treasurer of the Victorian Alliance and supporter of the Northcote Inebriate Retreat. He served fellow Baptists on the Victorian Baptist Home Missionary Society from its foundation in 1871, and was for years its treasurer. He enthusiastically supported Baptist overseas missions. At the annual Assembly of the Victorian Baptist Association in 1884, pointing out that inadequate financial resources had crippled progress, he announced an anonymous gift of £25 000 had been offered towards a capital fund for Baptist development, provided that the Victorian churches (with 4000 members) could raise a similar amount within five years. After only four years, during which he and others toiled incessantly to raise the sum, he announced that the required amount had been oversubscribed. The resulting Victorian Baptist Fund, of which he became treasurer (1888-93), enabled the establishment of a theological college (the Baptist College of Victoria, now Whitley College) in 1891, supported new and weak churches and provided assistance to aged ministers. McLean was elected chairman of the Association (1887-8).

By this time his business interests were extensive. When the land boom collapsed in the 1890s he faced ruin. Always unostentatious and hospitable, an imaginative planner who worked hard and inspired others by his integrity and enthusiasm, he now showed great courage as he fought to save the interests of others as well as his own. The business survived. However, he resigned from McLean Bros & Rigg in 1900 and, after a final visit to Europe, in 1901 he began afresh as a manufacturer's agent. But the stress of the years had taken toll of his health. He was found drowned in 1905.

ADB 5; Baptist Union Archives, Hawthorn, Victoria; B S Brown, Members One of Another(Melbourne, 1962); D M Himbury, Centenary History of the Victorian Baptist Fund (Melbourne, 1988); F J Wilkin, Our First Century (Melbourne, 1939)

BASIL S BROWN